VERY strong horse..... bitting advice ?

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Santa Clause

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okay so my lovely rising 6 irish mare is a very sweet mare but she is SO strong, yesterday i rode her in the school and warming up she was fairly laid back, cantering - abit more lively and then we went over a pole
well this is where it started to go downhill, i came in to it at a lovely steady balanced canter, 5 strides before we end up GALLOPING at this pole with her bunny hopping in between strides then it took me a whole lap and a half to bring her back to trot :rolleyes:
my plan was to jump but this was obv. no longer an option,
this carried on for the rest of the ride however she got more and more excited = stronger and stronger, it got to the point where i couldnt even bring her at walk past the pole without her rearing and cantering sideways to try and go over it,
she has always beeen strong but latley i have noticed it more,
Jumping & hacking with others is becoming an ongoing struggle with braking esp. hacking with others,
she is really fussy with her mouth and will stick her head up at the slightest thing, so i'm asking you for any advice you may have, i have tried her in a dutch gag but she absoloutly HATES it & gave me no extra control anyway :/
thanks in advance
i will try and put some of her giraffe pics up soon ;)
 
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please excuse hands was trying to relax them but still keep a slight contact
 
1) Dentist.
2) Check her back etc.

In my experience (and I will be shot down for this) I tend to try a hackamore for a strong, stressy horse.

I have been constantly amazed how it defuses things.

But her behaviour sounds like she is in pain to me.
 
had back, teeth, saddle etc checked, I would never ride my horses if i thought they were in pain without getting everything checked first.

I will see if i can borrow my friends hackamore later on today, thanks :)
 
i would want a good RI to assess the situation tbh and make sure there are no physical issues first........ then they should be able to help you develop a schooling programme working with poles to get her working over them calmly. Does she lunge over poles?

My old horse scared my initially as he was the same going near a pole on the ground or small jump. I resoved to the fact i wasnt going to jump him because the bunny hops , rears and general over excitment was putting me off. Turns out, un-wittingly, i was effectively riding with the handbrake on according to my RI and it was a viscous circle. I did bit up for hacks in company and for XC in the end.... but this was after we had established control in the school. good luck :)
 
I do have a very good instructor but we never jump in our lessons, she will lunge over poles but she still gets very excited and does her little bunny hops and rushing on the approach,

tried her in the hackamore today, mixed feelings about it really but i'm going to try jumping in it tomorrow and see how that goes :)

Thanks for everyones advice
 
Solopony said:
I do have a very good instructor but we never jump in our lessons, she will lunge over poles but she still gets very excited and does her little bunny hops and rushing on the approach,

tried her in the hackamore today, mixed feelings about it really but i'm going to try jumping in it tomorrow and see how that goes :)

Thanks for everyones advice
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i think you hit the nail on the head then ;) have some jumping lessons :)
 
Thanks again guys :)
i really do not think it is pain based as she does it on the lunge even without a rider / bridle, have weekly lessons with the RI at my yard but she dosn't teach jumping lessons and we arn't allowed other instuctors at our yard so hopefully i am going to try & get to regular jumping clinics and see what thye have to say about my situation :D

Maybe because of her age its just pure excitement & currently i am only in a snaffle.
 
I would be inclined to consider discomfort - as you say she does it on the lunge and with a rider. Bunny hops are a sure sign of back discomfort.

In between times just walk over the pole - don't canter or trot. When you do start to trot, bring her back to walk in a couple of strides after the pole.

Bit wise I'd try her in a Kimblewick, Uxeter or Pelham with a ported mouth so that she has plenty of room for her tongue. PLace the chain through the rings of the bit to keep it down in the chin groove. Placing it behind the bit can cause it to pinch the lips between the mouthpiece & the chain.
 
Evelyn said:
I would be inclined to consider discomfort - as you say she does it on the lunge and with a rider. Bunny hops are a sure sign of back discomfort.
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thanks, i had the saddle fitter out about 3 weeks ago but have rang him and he's coming out on tuesday just to double check & put my mind at rest, also got the chiropractor coming out on wednesday so will let you all know how that goes,

But saying that, if she was in discomfort wouldn't she be bunning hopping even when we wern't doing pole/jumping work eg. flat work schooling as she does not do it when we do flatwork :confused:
 
You stretch the back more for pole work and jumping. That's why cavaletti and pole work are recommended as rehab work by physios.
 
hi i have just read about your horse can i make a suggestion and it is not about a new bit, from experience its not fixing the problem. how long have you had her for ? and have you broken her yourselves? it may be that she needs a little bit more schooling and gain some manners. have you tried to lunge her over poles and jumps before you have rode and if so does she act the same? even if you have it may be worth lunging her for a while over them to get her used to jumping and following commands from you work it with some trotting poles and flat work and if she starts to get excited make her walk/ trot until she has calmed down a bit. hopefully she will get the idea. if that doesnt work try getting some advice from a trainer. get them to come out and visit you and her and ask her what she thinks. as it sounds like she is a bit confused and nervous about jumping and you are telling her to jump and go forward then doesnt understand why you are asking her to stop. i hope it helps a little. one of my friends did the same only she would buck while galloping towards a jump.
 
tuppence's fortune said:
hi i have just read about your horse can i make a suggestion and it is not about a new bit, from experience its not fixing the problem. how long have you had her for ? and have you broken her yourselves? it may be that she needs a little bit more schooling and gain some manners. have you tried to lunge her over poles and jumps before you have rode and if so does she act the same? even if you have it may be worth lunging her for a while over them to get her used to jumping and following commands from you work it with some trotting poles and flat work and if she starts to get excited make her walk/ trot until she has calmed down a bit. hopefully she will get the idea. if that doesnt work try getting some advice from a trainer. get them to come out and visit you and her and ask her what she thinks. as it sounds like she is a bit confused and nervous about jumping and you are telling her to jump and go forward then doesnt understand why you are asking her to stop. i hope it helps a little. one of my friends did the same only she would buck while galloping towards a jump.
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I have had her nearly 2 years now and she was already backed when I got her, I did try lunging he rover poles/jumps before i rode but then she got very fit & i had even more problems,
thanks for your help will deffiantly take it in to consideration :)

Just thought i'd update you all - had saddle fitter out a bit earlier he said saddle fits her perfectly so its not that which is causing the problem, we'll wait & see what the chiro says tomorrow :D
 
My horse is very strong i was in gag bottom ring and still couldnt stop him so fed up fighting got a bitless bridle not a hackmore just one of those nosejob things took him to huge field and as normal took of so i let him five times flat out in this field and when he wanted to stop because tired hell no i kicked him on and on we did another three of these and then let him stop slowly when asked praised him we did this for a week in the end he didnt even want to go in the field and started napping away hes brillant now only have to say enough and he starts to slow down slight pressure in a snaffle is enough to stop him i must say he was very very fit when i did this and lots of lungeing and voice aids big help
 
My horse was soft in the mouth but very strong as heavily built so used his physical strength so had no brakes. A dutch gag made him worried and throw his head up. A friend recomended the pee wee bit, this worked like a dream, happy horse, happy rider. You can school, hack and jump no need to change the bit. Google pee wee bit, loads of info on internet.
 
I love the way everyone assumes the horse is in pain because it gets overexcited. The OP comes across as an intelligent and considered person so to assume she hasn't had her horse checked over physically comes across as rather patronising...
OP my mare is the same, soft in the mouth but very strong and excitable. Tried various bits and she really resented anything too much but I had to keep hauling in the snaffle. She also does the head chucking thing as an evasion. Just got a Myler low ported, hanging cheek comfort snaffle and it's the best £70 I've spent. Light in the hand, stopped leaning and actually pays attention to me. She still gets excited but at least I have her attention and control.
Then again, maybe there's something wrong with her and I ought to call the vet ;)
 
I don't see that it's necessary to be snarky.

I don't think anyone has the intention to patronize the OP and when you ask for advice on a public forum you pretty much have to accept the advice given. No point posting if you're going to take offence.

As it is I have been in a similar situation and it is very easy to be too close and not see the big picture.

I find it very refreshing that people were responding with options other than "use draw reins" or "smack it with a whip" - only a year or so ago these would have made the bulk of replies!
 
I have an exciteable, strong mare as well. Cantering out hacking was pretty much of a no-no! However, have now discovered the Handy Piece of Kit that is the Neue Schule Universal, with a leather curb strap.
Now have a horse that listens to my seat because I'm not having to be strong with my hands. And - we can canter in company (as long as we are at the front....... horses!)
 
Solopony said:
Thanks again guys :)
i really do not think it is pain based as she does it on the lunge even without a rider / bridle,

Maybe because of her age its just pure excitement & currently i am only in a snaffle.
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Personally I still think it could be pain related. The fact she does it on the lunge can still mean she's in pain (and its just emphasised under saddle). I'd definately get her back checked (and saddle & teeth!). I wouldnt think its just excitement as with any youngster I've had and taught to jump - they are always very calm about the whole thing. I dont think most horses get "excited" about it at the beginning. If a horse races at a fence I'd always think its in pain.
 
Solopony said:
Thanks again guys :)
i really do not think it is pain based as she does it on the lunge even without a rider / bridle,
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I don't think this means you can rule out pain or discomfort though. Back, legs, feet, internal pain such as ulcers, even teeth without a bit can be sore. I agree with others this is something you need to check out. A bitless bridle as has been suggested is another idea as well as lessons.
How is she turning tight circles? Difficulty/reluctance here is a sign of sore feet imo. Is she senstive to the girth? When being brushed in any areas? Is she 'moody'?
It may well be a schooling issue but I would take this time to have a good think about her behaviour as a whole to give you clues. Good luck.
 
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